TAGUM CITY, Davao del
Norte Jan. 7 (PIA) — Mindanao is prone to trafficking, Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Luzviminda C. Ilagan said as she
raised the need for community information regarding trafficking.

Basing on her experience,
Ilagan cited the vulnerability of Mindanao which has now become prone to
natural calamities and where poverty incidence is still high.

She said the
evacuation sites where places to watch especially when man-made or natural
disaster would occur because “these are where trafficking happens”.

Brushing aside
literacy as a factor, she noted that even when victims knew the danger, they
succumbed due to “pressing needs”.

“Mao ni ang bantayan
kay kung naay evacuation center, daghang babae ang ma-traffic. (There is a need
to keep an eye on evacuation sites where a number of women have been
trafficked),” she said.

“Because of the
circumstances kay bisan ug kabalo sila (because even if they know) that
something is wrong with illegal recruitment, but because of the need,” she
added, explaining that pressing needs usually drive victims to succumb to
illegal recruitment leading to trafficking.

Ilagan said families
in communities should be made aware of the dangers of trafficking or the
transport of people who are being exploited through deceptive promises usually
of good jobs.

She also pointed out
the need for public information, inter-agency cooperation, strengthening of
local trafficking councils which firm up local government policies.

The Undersecretary,
however, expected local anti-trafficking councils to be funded by local
government units (LGUs) because of some expenses that would be incurred in running
the affairs of such council.

“So kinahanglan nga
kining nga kampanya mapadayon ug inter-agency all
of government jud ang approach. Kay dili pwede
nga buhaton sa usa lang ka ahensiya. (it is important to sustain this
campaign and this interagency (council) but it has to be all of government
approach because one agency cannot do it alone.),” she said.

If not at the town
levels, city and provincial level inter-agency council on trafficking would be
good enough to pool together agencies of national government to check
trafficking of persons.

Meanwhile, DSWD XI
Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat saw the crucial role of the
Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) in checking
incidence of trafficking of children in communities not just looking into
cases of children in conflict with the law (CICL).

DSWD along with other
members of the Regional Interagency Council against Trafficking (RIACAT) held
observance of International Day Against Trafficking (IDAT) in December in
Tagum City with Atty. Rudiger G. Falcis II, executive director of
IACAT Department of Justice.